Platen for printing machines



Dec. 27, 1932. P. J. CLARK 1,892,136

PLATEN FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1932. P CLARK 1,892,136

PLATEN FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1.932.l

P. J. CLARK PLATEN Foa PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q u Vw WW l fm Dec. 27, 1932. P. I CLARK 1,892,136

PLATEN FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PAUL J. CLARK, F LONGEORT, NEW JERSEY sra'ras Arent rif-ica PLATEN FOB PRINTING MACHINES Application inea Novembereo, 1930.` seriai No. 4ee,s4s. lVly invention relates to platen mechanism Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1, for use with check endorsing machines or the partly sectioned and broken away to illuslike and while intended to apply to any matrate mechanism embodying my invention. chine to which it is adapt-eu, is believed to Figure Sis a front sectional elevation of if? have its widest application Vwith check enstructure shown in Figure l, omitting casing dorsing machines and has therefore been ilstructure in order to more clearly show the lustrated with this type of machine. roll mechanism. l

Aipurpose of my invention is to lengthen Y Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken upon tlieeifective life of the platen of a machine the line-4 4 of Figure 1. i

" of the character indicated by the use of dif- Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view to 60 ferent resilient cover materials along difillustrate the application of my invention to ferent portions of the length of the platen. a different type of mechanism from thatl In a continuously driven platen that funcshown in Figures 1 to 4, the parts being Y tions to rotate a printing roll each time a shown in position to receive aclieck for eni check or the like is presented between the dorsing operation. f 65 continuously drivingplaten roll and one or, Figure 6 is a view corresponding generally more suitable rider rolls engaging the platen, to Figure but with the rolls advanced by a further purpose is to provide the platen reason of the check shown entering the niawith a rubber surface for engagement with chine in Figure 5 having passed partly 753" the type of the printing roll and with a cork through the machine in Figure 6. 7 surface or the like over that portion of the Figure 7 is a reduced scale top plan view roll that drives the printing roll and preferof the structure shown in Figures 5 and 6. ably also over that portion thereof that Like numerals refer to like parts in all figv. drives the rider roll or rolls. 4 ures. Vifi further purpose is to lessen the eect of Describing in illustration and not in limi- 75' intermittent 'blows upon a rubber platen used tation and referring to the drawings to receive the type portions of a. printing roll Referring to the structure illustrated in whenever a check or the like is passed be- Figures 1 to 4, a platen iolllO is continuoustween the printing and platen rolls, using a ly driven in any suitable way, illustrated as '53 resilient butler surface such'as cork between from a motor 11 through a spring clutch 12 80 the driving surfaces of the platen and printand worm mechanism 13, Figure 4.

ing rolls. The platen roll is shown as including a Further purposes will appear in the specifi shaft 14 operatively connected to the motor, cation and in the claims. and carrying spaced hubs and 16, that in T5' l haveelected to show two only of the turn carry metal tubular structure 17 with 85 many dieient forms of my invention, selectresilient non-metallic cover portions 18, 19 ing however forms that are practical and efand 2 0 along different portions of the length ficicnt in operation and which well illustrate of the roll. rlhe roll shaft is Journaled in the principles involved. suitable stationary framework S23, being r0- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through tated continuously by the motor 11. 90 an endorsing machine of the type disclosed @ne or more feed or rider rolls 24'normaland described in my U. S. Patent No. 1,709, ly resiliently engagek `and are continuously S97, filed March 29,1927 and entitled Cheek driven by the platen which is also engaged endorsing machine. the view omitting some by and rotates a printing roll 25? each time of the parts irrelevant to Vthe present invena check 26 iS passed between the Il-QIOI' feed 95 tion but described in the patent, and showrolls and the platen. t ing also partly diagrammatically electrical The feed o1" .llde 1011S 24 are IGSlllel'ltly connections for bringing a printing roll into pressed continuously against vthe surface of operation each time a check or the like is the platen roll being iournaled at 2 7 on the 5o passed into the machine. spaced arms of a rocker 28 which is pivoted at 1GO 29 and spring pulled at 30, Figures 1 and 3, to press the rolls 24 against the platen roll.

The printing roll 25 is journaled in bearings 31 and 32 at the outer ends of spaced horizontal arms 33 and 34 of a bell crank rocker 35.

The bell crank rocker 35 is pivotally supported at 3G and includes a downwardly eX- tending arm 37 to which is pivotally connected at 38 a horizontal link 39 that carries near its forward end an armature 40 of an electric magnet 41.

The electro-magnet 41 is stationary and suitably carried from the frame structure of the machine, being shown fastened by screws 41 to a bracket 412 that is in turn fastened by screws 41s to projecting lugs 414 of the frame (see Figures 1 and 3) The outer end of the link 39 is vertically supported and horizontally guided at 42 where a forwardly projecting horizontal rod 43 of the link slides through a perforation of a bracket 44, and is spring pressed adjustably forward at 45.

The link 39 is normally pressed forward from the position shown in Figure 1 to a position such that a felt 46 upon a forwardly directed surface of the link engages a rearwardly directed face of the supporting and guiding bracket member 44.

ldechanism is provided for energizing the Y stationary electric magnet 41 by the entry of a. check or the like between the feed and platen rolls, the magnet then pulling its armature 40 and therefore the link 39 hoizontally to the right, Figure 1, thereby moving the bell crank rocker 35 to bring the printing roll '24 down upon the platen 10 or rather upon the intermediate check 26 then passing between the feed and platen rolls and supported from downward movement by the platen.

The strong pull of the magnet 41 presses the printing roll strongly down upon the platen or intermedia-te check supported from downward movement by the platen with the result that the'continuous drive of the platen then rotates the printing roll to effect the endorsement operation on the check.

The mechanism for closing the circuit of the magnet when the check enters between the feed and platen rolls includes a light detector rocker member 47 which includes a metal strip pivoting at end lugs 48 on a transverse horizontal rod 49, with diagonally upwardly extending operating detector arms 50 and 51 registering within end grooves 52 and 53 of the platen roll 10 and an arm 54 registering within an intermediate groove 55 of the platen roll.

The detector rocker 47 also includes a downwardly extending arm 56 which carries a contact 57 adapte-d to engage a cooperating contact 58 if the rocker is deflected, as by rea sonof the entry of acheckbetween the feed and platen rolls, the entering check engaging and downwardly pressing the upper ends of the arms 50, 51 and 54 of the detector rocker to close the contacts 57 and 58 and thereby to close the circuit of the electric magnet 41, as from an energy source 59 through the wire 60, the closed contacts 57 and 58 to one terminal 61 of the magnet and thence through the magnet and the other terminal 62 thereof to the other side of the energy source 59.

rIhe detector rocker 47 is resiliently pulled at 63 to maintain a position such that its three arms 50, 51 and 54 within thecircumferential grooves 52, 53 and 55 of the platen project forward diagonally upward into the line of travel of the checks.

The printing roll 25 is designed to make one complete revolution each time a check passes between the feed and platen rolls.

It will be understood that the width of checks is variant and that the end of the rotary movement of the printing roll is determined by the breaking of the circuit of the electro-magnet 41, the spring at 45 then retracting the link 39 longitudinally to the left which angularly moves the rocker 35 in a direction to carry the printing roll away from the platen.

The printing roll has a circumference somewhat greater than the width of the widest check with which the machine is to be used and the contact breaking is effected by a cam surface 64 on the printing roll.

The cam 64 is formed to continue to depress the intermediate detector arm 54 after the check has completed its passage between the rolls until the printing roll has completed a single revolution at which time the cam 64 releases the detector arm, permitting the spring retraction of the detector rocker 47 to open the circuit of the magnet which in turn permits the spring retraction of the printing roll away from the platen.

Each time a check is passed through the feed and platen rolls, it must in passing to a point between the print and platen rolls depress the detector arms 50 and 51 and 54 into .their respective grooves 52, 53 and 55, the depression of the detector closing the electric circuit of the magnet 41.

The energizing ofthe magnet 41 brings the printing roll sharply down upon the advancing check with a resilient pressure between the print and platen rolls that is adequate to frictionally drive the print roll by the turning of the platen.

The opening of the magnet circuit at the end of one complete revolution of the printing roll, as determined by the cam 64 of the print roll releasing the detector arm 54, lets the print roll retract from the platen, as already explained.

I find in practice the platen surface material registering with the type on the printing roll is desirably rubber, the character of the printing being much better when the irnpression is supported by rubber than when supported by` other materials, such for example as cork.

' After continued service the rubber that support-s the endorsement impressions deteriorates,v bulging outwardly at the portion of the platen roll that registers with the printing roll. l

I have discovered that this deteriorating bulging of the rubber on the portion of the platen that registers with thev printing portion of the printing roll may be greatly'delayed with a consequent great increase in the life of theq platen, by using cork or like material instead of rubber as a circumferential covering o n driving portions of the platen not registering with the printing portion of the printing roll.

In the past the platen has presented rubber not only to the printing portion of the print roll but also to nonprinting portions of the print roll and to the feed rolls, with the life of the platen determined by the gradual bulging deterioration of rubber at the printing portion of the print roll.A

. By my invention I make no change in the portion of the platen that registers with the endorsement type but greatly increase its life and thereby the life of the platen by using cork along the remaining engagement portion of the platen.

"While the reason for this material increase in the life of the rubber at the middle of the platen from changing the. character of the platen surface material elsewhere than at the middle is not altogether clear, the applicant believes it is due to a combination of causes including a deadening by the cork of inward vibration movements existent when rubber is used on all the driving surfaces of the platen, and also the mere shortening of the rubber on the platen, with a resultant lessening of bulging incident to longitudinal expansion due to a gradual lessening of the rubber density during prolonged wear.

lVhatever the true'reason the fact appears that changing the covering on the portion of the platen that does not register with the type has a very material edect in increasing the life of the part of the platen that does register with the type o-n the print roll.

As best seen in Figures 3 and l I preferably limit the surface rubber on the platen roll to that portion 19 thereof that registers with the type 56 on the printing roll and provide the end portions 18 and 2() of the roll on each side of this intermediate portion with a cover that is desirably cork but may be similar material having characteristics adapting it to deaden the inward movements of the. type portion of the printing roll with respect to the rubber surface presented by the platen.

In the form shown in Figures 5 to 7, the platen roll 67 is driven as before continuously ment with the plateny roll, rotating continuously by frictional engagement with the platen.

When a check 26 is inserted between the feed and platen rolls, its forward edge in passing between the rolls engages lthe lower end of a trip lever 78 and secures a single rotation of the print roll by deflecting the trip lever in pushing past this lever.

rEhe trip lever extends diagonally downwardly from a pivot 79 carried by an upwardly projecting portion of the rocker 7 2, has a link connection 8Ov with the upper end of a latch member 81 and has a downwardly proiecting toe that extends into a circumferential groove 82 of the platen. v

. The latch member 8l is pivotally supported at 83 on the rocker 72 and normally present-s a hook surface 84 against an abutment 85 of the print roll, normally preventingturning movement of the printing roll, which in its normal position is resiliently pressed at' 86 in its direction of rotation. Y

The print roll has a suitable flattening at 87 so that normally it is out of engagement with the revolvingplaten roll, the engagement between the feed roll and platen roll holding the rocker 72 from downward movement to bring the print roll against the platen.

As soon as an advancing check rearwardly deiiects the trip lever, this lever swings back the latch 8l, releasing the print roll to forward turning in the direction of the arrow, responsive to a suitable'spring 88 pressing against the cam surface 86 presented by the print roll.

A small arcuate turning movement of the print roll-effected by the cooperatingaction of the spring 88 and cam 86 brings the full radius portion ofthe printing roll into engagement with the platen or with the check passing between the platen and print rolls, turning the print roll flattening at 87 beyond the platen.

The engagement is now between the print roll and platen rather than between the feed roll and platen7 the rocker arm 72 carrying both the printing and feed rolls lifting slightly to permit passage of the check and the print roll being driven frictionally by its engagement with the continuously revolving platen.

As before the circumference of the print Y roll should be greater than the width of the widest check used with the machine.

After the check has passed through the machine and at the lend of one complete revolution of the printroll, the print roll is brought to rest by the abutment of the roll engaging the hook surface 84 of the latch 81, the print roll coming to rest with its fiattening 87 directed toward the platen to relieve engagement between the print roll and platen a little before. the print roll stops against the hook and thereafter until the print roll has been turned onward somewhat when the next check releases the latch.

It will be seen that the cutting awa-y at 87 of the print roll permits the feed rolls to come strongly against the platen, the feed rolls holding the rocker 72 out suficiently to prevent the print roll from engaging the platen.

As in the other form, I provide the platen with an outer thickness of rubber at 90 where it registers with the type portion 91 of the printing roll and with an outer cover of cork or the like material at 92 and 93 that engage the end portions of the printing roll and the feed rolls, the. cork at the non-printing bearing surfaces effecting a material increase in the life of the intermediate rubber presented to the printing portion of the printing roll.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benets of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is e l. A platen having rubber along one portion of its length and cork along another portion of its length, a print roll for intermittent operation by the platen, and mechanism effecting driving engagement between the print roll and platen, the print roll having printing and noneprinting portions engaging the platen respectively along the cork and rubber surfaces thereof.

- 2. A platen having rubber along one portion'of its length and cork along another portion of its length, a feed roll making drivinoengagement with the platen along the corr thereof,a print roll for intermittent operation by the platen and presenting its print* ing surface in registry with the rubber of the platen and mechanism efecting driving engagement between the print roll and platen.

3. A platen having rubber along one portion of its length and cork along another portion of its length, a print roll having a printing portion registering with the rubber of the platen, a non-printing portion registering withv the cork of the platen and a feed roll registering with the cork of the platen.

4. A platen having rubber and cork along different portions of its length respectively for receiving a printing stroke and for making driving engagement with auxiliary mechanism.

5. In a machine of the character indicated, a platen, means for continuously driving the platen, a rider roll engaging the platen and a printing roll including a type-carrying portion and end portions for making a driving connection with the platen, adapting the printing roll to be rotated by the platen each time a check is inserted, the platen having rubber at the portion that engages the printing portion of the print roll and cork at the end portions thereof that engage the printing roll and rider roll.

VPAUL J.y CLARK.

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